What have you done to your Preproom to make your life easier as a technician?

[Bruce]

Sounds obvious, but I have come from a place that has different sized bungs on delivery tubing to gas syringe because all the conicals had different neck sizes!!!- had to allocate the right ones before sending out a class set..
Sooo much easier if all conicals have same neck size, so easy class sets of delivery tubing/gas syringes etc...

Have you ever noticed conical flask necks are not always perfectly round: and slightly oval.
You can discern this if you look carefully (100ml).
Important, when doing eg HCl/Mg rates/concentration and using gas syringes which must have a good seal to work properly.

 

[RadioChemist]

Locked the teachers out

 

[SciTechNewbie]

Getting rid of broken items in order to clear space, in order to store new stock safely was the best thing I did. Still in the process of re-labelling Gratnell trays, emptying and washing grubby Gratnells, and sorting through things that had just been thrown into storage - lol! I got rid of all the "stuff" (broken, leaky, ancient fire hazards equipment. Some dated from the 60's) on top of cupboards and it's made the room so much lighter! Actually lovely being in my prep room now.

 

[Kasfarer]

we also put by the door of the prep room a gratnell rack filled with items that teachers are always asking for or send students to the door for..

We have one of these for stationary and office kit that's right in front of the door as you walk in. I put it there two years ago and they still walk straight past it to ask me where they can find a stapler or some such

 

[newbietech]

Im on my own in a pretty small space but we've only got 3 labs but it took my 3 solid weeks to organise things how I need them when I started! because we're small I prefer to break everything down and put away after each day/experiment is finished - It helps me know EXACTLY where everything is. I find labelling my trays a big help - even if it's labelled "random stuff" lol

 

[Kerry]

An air conditioning unit (no opening windows) to keep the chemicals cool......... it's always lovely and cool in my prep room, and keeps the teachers out who like to be warm constantly

 

[SciTechNewbie]

An air conditioning unit (no opening windows) to keep the chemicals cool......... it's always lovely and cool in my prep room, and keeps the teachers out who like to be warm constantly

OMG - the dream! I'm sat here in my prep room with the fan on - it gets so hot. It was 42 degrees in here last summer

 

[Kerry]

OMG - the dream! I'm sat here in my prep room with the fan on - it gets so hot. It was 42 degrees in here last summer

We said it was needed for H&S reasons, the flash point of some chemicals is 23 degrees, they panicked..... and we (well me now I'm on my own) are lovely and cool..... and safe, of course

 

[TechNewham]

Safe from a raging, overheated technician, at least. Or a snoozing one.

 

[Paul]

We said it was needed for H&S reasons, the flash point of some chemicals is 23 degrees, they panicked..... and we (well me now I'm on my own) are lovely and cool..... and safe, of course

They put it in a few of our rooms because they didn't have a window. (HSE or something)

 

[CovTech]

An air conditioning unit (no opening windows) to keep the chemicals cool......... it's always lovely and cool in my prep room, and keeps the teachers out who like to be warm constantly

We had the same problem for years, played holy hell trying to get air con

They cheaped out at the start of this year and bought us a medical fridge for the "flammables of concern"

 

[Alman]

We have one of these for stationary and office kit that's right in front of the door as you walk in. I put it there two years ago and they still walk straight past it to ask me where they can find a stapler or some such

I have my stationary behind my desk, when a teacher asks for staples I swivel my chair and point at it and turn back around.

 

[Nicki]

I have my stationary behind my desk, when a teacher asks for staples I swivel my chair and point at it and turn back around.

My reply is usually "have looked in the tray labelled (insert item here)?" and get on with what I am doing.

 

[Alman]

My reply is usually "have looked in the tray labelled (insert item here)?" and get on with what I am doing.

It's almost as if they're labelled for a purpose... when I figure out why I'll get back to everyone.

At least pointing I don't waste my breath.

 

[Nicki]

The best one was when the pens were in the tray labelled Pencils and visa versa - couldn't be bother to change them over. This it seems it quite an effective way to confuse people

 

[ClaireS]

I changed the area where the teachers sat for their lunch into storage space - double bonus.

I did this now some of them sit in their car at lunch cos they refuse to play nice with the others in the staff room....

 

[Kasfarer]

My reply is usually "have looked in the tray labelled (insert item here)?" and get on with what I am doing.

I might label my tray "Where it Always is" and see if they notice!

 

[biojudit]

Its not what I've done but is on the agenda should IT give in and finally get us a tablet.

My plan is to print QR codes that link to specific recipe sheets and Hazcards, I'll stick these to stock bottles, that way when I want the recipe fr a chemical I grab the tablet, scan the QR code and (if the browser remembers the CLEAPSS login details) I'll get straight in to the recipe card and away we go.

That's a great idea! we attach the recipe sheets link on lablogger to make it quicker to make a solution when we need it.

 

[Puds]

Well the way today has gone, the best thing that would make my life easier is to lock door & go home.

 

[Lozzie-Lou]

Having a lock on the door means I can hear when anyone is coming in. That gives me a few precious moments to run and hide if I want to avoid socialising or am having a mental breakdown